National Team | USA defeats Czech Republic in World Grand Prix Volleyball

The US National Team,
playing in Japan just four days (and seven time zones) after its previous match
in Serbia, earned a 3-0 World Grand Prix volleyball victory
over Czech Republic in Sendai
(25-20, 25-20, 25-23).

Two Washington
alumni were in the lineup. Tama
Miyashiro was the US libero, recording 5 digs and 4 “excellent” (an
international term) serve receives. Jenna
Hagglund came in as a substitute in all three matches, contributing 18 set
attempts (assists are not an international statistic.)

USA is now 6-1 in World Grand Prix pool play, and has two
tough matches ahead. Tonight at 8:30PM (Pacific), the Americans face host Japan, also 6-1. Last month, #1-ranked USA
swept #3 Japan in three Southern California exhibitions.

Late Saturday night (11:30PM Pacific Time), USA’s final pool
match will be against Bulgaria. Last
night, the Bulgarians handed Japan its first World Grand Prix loss, a 3-0
barnburner (25-23, 25-23, 31-29). Last week, Bulgaria dealt Brazil its only Grand Prix defeat.

USA head coach Karch Kiraly during a World Grand Prix timeout against Czech Republic in Sendai, Japan-photo courtesy FIVB

Six teams will qualify for next week’s Grand Prix
championship round—host Japan plus five other teams. 8 teams are still in
contention for those six spots: China (7-0), USA (6-1), Serbia (6-1), Italy
(6-1), Brazil (6-1), Bulgaria (5-2), Turkey (5-2) and Russia (5-2).